§ 23. Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the conservation of North sea fish stocks.
§ Mr. CurryConservation of fish stocks in the North sea is a high priority. At the December Fisheries Council we took tough decisions to have a much lower total allowable catches (TACs) in 1990 by key stocks. We have sent the Commission a paper setting out possible further technical conservation measures. We will participate strongly in the high-level working group called by the Council to intensify discussions on conservation measures in the North sea. Success has been achieved. The herring stock has recovered from the low levels of 10 years ago and exceptional measures taken by the European Community in 1989 to protect the 1987 year class of sole has meant that a considerably higher TAC is possible this year.